Eirik and his wife Thjodhild gave birth to two sons, Thorstein and Leif, both promising young men. Thorstein became well-known in Greenland, but Leif sailed to Norway to meet King Olaf Tryggvason. While in Norway, Leif fell in love with Thorgunna, a woman of noble birth and unusual knowledge. Leif asks Thorgunna to leave with him but she seems indifferent at first. However, when she tells Leif that he has fathered her child, she tells him that she intends to raise their son in Greenland when he can travel. Still, she wishes to wait to come to Greenland until their child is old enough.

Leif leaves, and they trade gifts. The child, Thorgils, is born and arrives to live with Leif. Thorgils always has an uncanny element...